Grateful Dead

Share Your Stories Of Healing With The Dead

The feature film The Music Never Stopped is based on the true story of an estranged father and son reconnecting through the power of music, particularly the music of the Dead. How has the music of the Dead helped to heal you? Is there a specific song that has given you inspiration when you needed it? A memory of the Dead that has greatly enriched your life? Submit your personal tale of "gratefulness" in the comments of this page and not only we will pass along your anecdotes to the band, but you may just win a copy of The Music Never Stopped soundtrack and a t-shirt from the film. 10 winners will be selected at random.

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Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. (excluding Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam), 18 and older (or 19 and older for residents of AL and NE) at time of entry. Void where prohibited. To enter: Visit http://www.dead.net between 12:00pm Pacific Standard Time (“PST”) on March 21, 2011 and 12:00pm PST on April 1, 2011 and follow online instructions to submit entry. Limit one (1) entry per person/address/email address. Subject to Official Rules available HERE.

I really never expected to connect the Dead with my faith, but God has a way of making surprising connections! Upon my first of 3 divorces, I became alienated from the church which abandoned me in my time of need. During my second marriage, I became a devoted Deadhead, and my husband and I enjoyed following the band on their East Coast tours. I stupidly became involved with another very controlling and manipulative man, ended my dream-marriage, and married #3. When he forced me out 6 months later, I felt like a complete failure at life (not an easy thing to face for a previously very successful over-achiever).

During the months that followed, my faith and the church became more important than ever to me. This time, it embraced and cared for me and taught me the meaning of grace. While driving to church one week, I heard "I Will Take You Home" (which my father and I had danced to at my 2nd wedding), and I had the most incredible feeling come over me. There's an amazing line in the song..."You can't get lost when you're always found." Well, I had sure felt hopelessly lost and ashamed of my actions for quite a while. When I heard this, I felt a profound sense of comfort and healing. I realized that God was speaking to me and reminding me that I can never be lost from God's embrace.

I'm guessing that not many "church" people would appreciate this connection, but it was incredibly real and very powerful for me. I still love the Dead. And I still love God. And I'm thankful for both!

For me Scarlet Begonias into Fire on the Mountain have been the songs that can take me away from all thats bothering me. It was played at the first show I saw and from then on it never failed to bring a smile to my face. Jerry's playing in these songs, especially the transition between them has the power to realign me and put me back onto the road to happiness.

Not the fanciest of stories, I'm sure, but just after having a baby later in life I couldn't remember many nursery songs right away for those middle of the night moments. Instead I sang to her what I knew..Sugar Magnolia, Peggy O and Bobby McGee.

Very interesting timing for this movie. I hope I can get out of here soon and go it. Where is "here"? Here is UCSF in San Francisco, where I am currently days away from receiving a Bone Marrow Stem Cell transplant to fix my broken blood and marrow. I was diagnosed with AML (a form of Leukemia) back in November 2010. Since then, I've been in and out of the hospital getting all kinds of chemo and preparing for my "new birthday" which is in 5 days.

When I'm not listening to Howard (no Stern bashers please, this post isn't intended to start a flame war) l listen to music constantly, and lately it's been 100% Grateful Dead. Either through my killer AudioEngine2 speakers in my room or while doing "laps" -- laps are when you walk with all your chemo setup around the hospital floor . It's my primary source of exercise, and I never walk without my iPod, QC-15s, and good ol' Jerr-bear.

This week it's been some early '73 shows and the Fall '91 Boston run: I attended all 6 of those Boston shows -- man, I can't believe that was almost 20 years ago. Those '91 shows with Bruce were some of my favorite... I just loved what he did with grand piano and all the Jerry/Bruce interplay. As I walk, I usually air drum and bop my head which brings smiles to the nurses and other patients on the floor.

Rather than re-tell everything here, I'll link to my blog which is here: http://jgwkia.com/ - means "jg will kick its ass," my motto since the very first day I was diagnosed with this bullsh*t. The short version is this: I will kick this thing in the ass, and the Dead will be my soundtrack and inspiration. If you're interested in following the story, c'mon over to the blog.

Best wishes to everyone dealing with anything like this or any other hardships. Let there be songs to fill the air!

The Dead have no doubt changed my life... For the past four years or so ive been on the road. travelling to many strange places, mostly where few people even think of going. Always travelling along, the dead have been my constant companions... At the start of each bus journey I play Ripple and Brokedown Palace, usually followed by Trukin' or Box of Rain... I have a thousand different memories from these songs...Some particularly memorable moments:
Trippin on the great wall to a 74 space jam, to sitting on my backpack at a Indian train station, watching the rats move around furiously (I was listening to Ripple at the time, not Wharf Rat!) To listening to a brokedown palace deep in the himalaya's, knowing that soon I would have to return 'home'
Long live the Dead and the feeling they offer us each and every time! :)

I was born with the Grateful Dead playing and they have been a comfort o me ever since. I was named after Cassady my middle name being Cassady and last being Nehl (pronounced Neal). I've always turned to the dead for healing and they have been there through many a close calls with my Dad who was on the edge many times but has come through the fire and is good now. My best memories are seeing shows with my Dad and being connected to something so much greater than oneself. Today my Mom is having surgery on Cancer that has returned to her system. She is in Bend, Oregon and I am on Oahu and couldn't be there this time. I got up early this morning and sat at the computer and pushed play. Comes a Time came through and tears came down. Somehow you just know that its going to be okay when the music play. Just thankful that the band and the circle have pushed through for so long and always realized how much power and healing they offered to all of us. I got on the Original bus when it was parked in the swamp on Kesey's farm and have always been Grateful for the kindness that the circle has shown. One more Mission in the Rain, and I know that Mom will com through today as she goes under the knife. Thanks are an understatement, but they are all I've got.

I dont have alot of friends, and what friends I do have I cherish. Yesterday, one of them commited suicide... This guy, struggled with alcoholism and was a very talented guitar player. 10 months ago, he drug me kickin and screamin back into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. I owe him dearly with my life and for helping me to achieve sobriety once again. Unfortunately his demons got the best of him. I have been listening to Brokedown Palace all morning. There are so many songs that I could have chosen, but this is one that myself and him related to the most during points in our sobriety. RIP David Zink, your pain has been removed. Give Jerry a hug !

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